How to get the most out of business networking

No matter the type of work you do, business networking can be vital in helping you find the right people to develop connections, gain advice and to build and develop your company. Attending local networking events allows you to meet like minded people and develop professional relationships and potential partnership or or client leads. Whilst business networking can have great benefits for you and your business, it’s important that you get the most out of networking opportunities.

To help you do this we have put together 5 top tips for getting the most out of business networking…

1. Do your research

Before you attend an event it’s a good idea to check the attendees of previous events, this allows you to check that the types of businesses attending events are going to be relevant to your business and allows you to do a bit of background research into what they do. Checking social media updates or requesting an attendee list is an easy way to do this. 2. Make a plan

Plan what you want to get out of the networking event beforehand, turning up unprepared can reflect badly upon you and your business. Prepare an elevator pitch and brush up on background knowledge of your business so you aren’t caught off guard by any questions. 3. Take your business cards

Make sure you have plenty of business cards with you, not taking any with you or running out of cards at an event can be awkward and may lead to you missing out on an opportunity! Make sure you have enough on-hand. If you don’t have business cards you can design and print ones easily and cheaply using sites such as Vistaprint or Instantprint. 4. Talk to as many people as possible

It’s easy to get comfortable and settle in with a group for the duration of an event, but it’s important that you make the most of every opportunity. Politely excuse yourself and approach other groups throughout the event to ensure you are getting the most from the event you’re at. 5. Follow up on your connections

After making new connections at an event it’s important not to let potential leads go cold, connect with relevant people you spoke to on LinkedIn and maintain momentum by sending a follow up email or giving them a call.

To find out more about the events hosted by LinkedInLocal Swansea and to book your tickets click here.